Japanese word

溶かす

Pronunciation

Romajitokasu

Meaning

  • verbmelt, dissolve

Example

チョコレートを溶かします。cho ko rē to o to ka shi ma su

I melt the chocolate.

Illustration for 溶かす (melt)

More examples

水に砂糖を溶かします。mizu ni sa tō o to ka shi ma su

I dissolve sugar in water.

湯せんでバターを溶かします。yu se n de ba tā o to ka shi ma su

I melt butter in a double boiler.

Core concept

Causes a solid or frozen substance to become liquid, or makes a substance blend evenly into a liquid.

Common phrases

  • バターを溶かすba tā o to ka su

    melt butter

  • 氷を溶かすkōri o to ka su

    melt ice

  • 砂糖を溶かすsa tō o to ka su

    dissolve sugar

Similar words

溶融するyōyūsuru: To cause a solid material to become liquid by applying heat.

Definition in Japanese

熱や液体の作用で、固体や凍ったものを液状にしたり、物質を液体に混ぜて均一にしたりする。netsu ya eki tai no sa yō de ko tai ya kō tta mo no o eki jō ni shi ta ri bus shitsu o eki tai ni ma ze te kin itsu ni shi ta ri su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 溶かす (tokasu, "to melt or dissolve") is the transitive counterpart of 溶ける (tokeru, "to melt or thaw"), expressing the act of causing a change.

Usage tips

  • English commonly uses melt for a solid becoming liquid through heat, but Japanese 溶かす (tokasu) also describes dissolving sugar in water, so one Japanese verb spans two common English choices.

Other meanings

  • thawverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 溶かし方tokashikataway to meltnoun

Word lists with this word